President's Message

By Joseph D. Leone, CFP®, CPA, CLU, President

As we enter the summer months, I hope all of you find time to spend with your family and friends!   Thanks to all of you who attended the Spring Conference and the Knowledge Café.  Both events were well attended!  For those of you who were unable to attend, you missed a great line-up of speakers at the conference. 

The Knowledge Café was led by our national President Tom Potts and Executive Director Marv Tuttle.  They asked our members what they could do on the national level to help us grow our businesses.

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April 27th New Member Reception

By Darryn Murdoch, LCSW
Membership (Recruitment) Director

The FPANJ Membership Committee hosted its first New Member reception on April 27th at Lincoln Financial Advisors in Edison, NJ. The second event is currently scheduled for September 13th.  This was a special orientation and cocktail reception just for new members.  It was an opportunity for new members to meet FPANJ Board members, network with their peers, and learn how to get the most from their membership. 

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FPANJ 2010 Board of Directors
  • Chairman/Past President
    Michael Gibney, CFP®
  • President
    Joseph Leone, CFP®, CPA, CLU
  • President-Elect
    Tom Duffy, CFP®, MBA
  • Secretary/Treasurer
    James Freisen, CFP®, CPA
  • Public Relations Co-Director
    Leslie Beck, CFP®, MBA
  • Education Director
    Tom Duffy, CFP®, MBA
  • Allied Professionals Director
    Gregory Esposito, CFP®
  • Conference Director
    Michael Gibney, CFP®
  • Pro Bono Director
    Bob Gregg
  • Public Awareness Director
    Omega Hartman, CFP®
  • Government Relations Director
    Jason Hochstadt, CFP®
  • Business Partners Director
    Shikha Mittra, CFP®, CMFC®, CRPS®, MBA
  • Membership (Recruitment) Director
    Darryn Murdoch, LCSW 
  • Public Relations Co-Director
    Mary Ellen Nicola, CFP®
  • Career Developtment Director
    Damien Paumi, CFP®
  • Technology Director
    Charles Roberson, CFP®, CLU
  • Membership (Retention) Director
    Todd Stanard, CFP®, ChFC
  • Chapter Executive
    Maria T. Eckert

WPU College Students Standing Out in the Crowded Marketplace

By Leslie Beck, CFP®, MBA
Public Relations Co-Director

Facing the daunting prospect of securing a job after graduation, a select group of students at William Paterson University in Wayne are planning to take matters into their own hands.  Financial planning, that is, and these trendsetters are learning how to best help the public get their financial affairs in order, while improving their own chances for employment.

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May 12, 2010 Conference

By Leslie Beck, CFP®, MBA
Public Relations Co-Director

The Chapter held its annual Spring Conference at the Woodbridge Hilton on May 12th.  Over 150 attendees received CFP and CPE credits for attending the all-day event, which was immediately followed by a special FPA Knowledge Café.  The theme of “Estate Planning 360” was carried through all the presentations, and provided a cohesive framework for the day.

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FPANJ President Joe Leone, CFP®, CPA, CLU welcomed everyone to the conference.

The conference attendees enjoyed a lunch buffet while visiting the exhibitors.


October 4 – 10, 2010
Celebrate by participating in events across the country

National News
  • FPA Denver 2010 - October 9-12, 2010 - FPA's annual conference and exposition is the single largest concentrated gathering of financial planning professionals in the world. FPA Denver 2010 is a one-stop-resource-shop that provides high-quality education that spans learning needs, delivering both the breadth and depth of topical areas.
  • Financial Planning Days - The Financial Planning Association® (FPA®), the Foundation for Financial Planning, Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (CFP Board) and the U.S. Conference of Mayors announced a major initiative to provide free financial education and programming to underserved populations throughout the U.S. The first-of-its kind effort is slated to involve thousands of financial planners and consumers with the support of numerous cities in a series of “Financial Planning Days” scheduled for October 2010.
  • Journal Article Says a Complex Financial World Taxes Humans Brains - Many individuals make poor investment and money decisions because the human brain developed certain functions prior to the complexity of today's financial world. That's the conclusion of author Doug Lennick, CFP®, in his article "Money on Your Mind: The Brain's Role in Financial Decision-Making," published in the April issue of the Journal of Financial Planning.
  • Spreading the Word about the Profession - Catch up on the latest FPA buzz! Don't just take our word for it – read what top newspapers and media outlets are saying about FPA.
  • FPA’s Practice Management Center - Your source for practice management solutions

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Government Relations

Jason Hochstadt, CFP®, AIF®
Government Relations Director

Bill to Protect Seniors from Bogus Financial Advice Now Law

Members of the FPANJ Government Relations Committee met on July 7th with State Assemblyman Gary Schaer, 36th Legislative District, Chair of the Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee, to thank him for his support in the passage of a bill prohibiting the misleading use of senior-specific financial designations in the sale of securities.  An adoption of the NASAA Model Rule, the bill was signed into law on July 6.  Standing with Assemblyman Schaer (Left) are William Stratton (Right), former FPANJ Board member and current member of the Government Relations Committee; Joseph Leone (Front), FPANJ Board President; and Leslie Beck, FPANJ Board member and Co-Director, Public Relations.  Click here for the press release.

Legislative Days Event
June 7 & 10, 2010

The NJ Chapter of the Financial Planning Association (FPANJ) participated in the Legislative Days Event at the New Jersey State Capitol, Elevator Lobby, West State Street, Trenton, New Jersey, June 7 & 10, 2010.

The goal of this annual FPANJ event is to generate an awareness of financial planning and the value of the financial planning process for state legislators, staff members, and the public.

(from L-R) Tom Duffy (FPANJ President-Elect), Shikha Mittra (FPANJ Business Partners Director), Chuck Stanley, and Bruce Tucker (FPANJ Government Relations Committee Members)

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Public Awareness

By Omega Hartman, CFP®
Public Awareness Director

2010 Financial Planning Days
Elizabeth – 10/16 & Newark – 10/23

FPA® - CFP Board - Foundation for Financial Planning - U.S. Conference of Mayors
Partners in Financial Planning Days Nationwide

This ground-breaking program will assist those in need of financial guidance through a series of financial planning clinics powered by the financial planning community and embraced by city governments. As part of Financial Planning Days, competent and ethical financial planners will provide free, no-strings attached financial advice and education in communities throughout the country.

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May 12, 2010 Conference: Look What You Missed


Brad D. Shalit, LL.M.
“Advanced Estate Planning and Asset Protection”

 

Kenneth B. Shapiro, CPA/PFS, CFP®
“Real World & Planning Issues during Estate Administration Process”

 

Amy Florian, MPS, FT – “Prepare to Meet Thy Boom”

Sam Stovall, CFP® – “Second Verse Same as the First?”

National FPA 2010 President Dr. Tom Potts CFP®, Ph.D and Executive Director/CEO Marv Tuttle CAE
FPA Listening Tour - click here to read the members feedback.

 

Conference Exhibitors